France coach Fabian Galthie has left three senior players out of his 42-man squad for the start of the Six Nations.
Gael Fickou, Damian Penaud and vice-captain Gregory Alldritt all miss out.
Alldritt mostly captained France during star scrumhalf Antoine Dupont’s eight-month injury absence, while centre Fickou is the most-capped active player in the country and winger Penaud is Les Bleus’ all-time record try-scorer.
All three will miss France’s Six Nations opener at home to Ireland next month but could be called up later on in the tournament.
Flyhalf Romain Ntamack is also missing through injury but Dupont will make his first France appearance since tearing his cruciate knee ligament in March during France’s victory away to Ireland in last year’s Six Nations tournament, which they won.
Alldritt, 28, was dropped for France’s home defeat to the Springboks in November but came back to captain the side against Fiji and the Wallabies.
Fickou, 31, who has 98 caps for France, stood in as skipper against the Boks but was then dropped against Fiji, before being recalled to face the Wallabies.
Penaud, 29, surpassed France great Serge Blanco as his country’s top try-scorer in November, taking his tally to 40 in 59 matches.
He forms part of a dynamic wing partnership at Champions Cup holders Bordeaux Begles alongside Louis Bielle-Biarrey, but was previously dropped by Galthie after losing to England in the Six Nations last year.
ALSO: France B team to face All Blacks again
Galthie has instead called up several younger players such as Stade Francais centre Noah Nene, 21, Toulon winger Gael Drean, and Bordeaux-Begles loose forward Temo Matiu, 24.
Australia U20 lock Tom Staniforth, 31, earned his first call-up for France having qualified on residency grounds after more than five years playing for Castres.
France Six Nations squad
Backs: Gregoire Arfeuil (Pau), Theo Attissogbe (Pau), Louis Bielle-Biarrey (Bordeaux Begles), Fabien Brau-Boirie (Pau), Romain Buros (Bordeaux Begles), Thibault Daubagna (Pau), Nicolas Depoortere (Bordeaux Begles), Gael Drean (Toulon), Antoine Dupont (Toulouse), Kalvin Gourgues (Toulouse), Aaron Grandidier-Nkanang (Pau), Matthieu Jalibert (Bordeaux Begles), Yoram Moefana (Bordeaux Begles), Noah Nene (Stade Francais), Thomas Ramos (Toulouse), Baptiste Serin (Toulon), Ugo Seunes (Racing 92).
Forwards: Dorian Aldegheri (Toulouse), Uini Atonio (La Rochelle), Hugo Auradou (Pau), Cyril Baille (Toulouse), Paul Boudehent (La Rochelle), Francois Cros (Toulouse), Alexandre Fischer (Bayonne), Thibaud Flament (Toulouse), Jean-Baptiste Gros (Toulon), Mickael Guillard (Lyon), Oscar Jegou (La Rochelle), Anthony Jelonch (Toulouse), Maxime Lamothe (Bordeaux Begles), Julien Marchand (Toulouse), Temo Matiu (Bordeaux Begles), Peato Mauvaka (Toulouse), Emmanuel Meafou (Toulouse), Regis Montagne (Clermont), Rodrigue Neti (Toulouse), Lenni Nouchi (Montpellier), Charles Ollivon (Toulon), Dany Priso (Toulon), Thomas Staniforth (Castres), Tevita Tatafu (Bayonne), Cameron Woki (Bordeaux Begles).
– AFP
Photo: Franco Arland/Getty Images
The post Galthie drops experienced French trio appeared first on SA Rugby magazine.